National Republican., 1887-07-28
CAPTURED sEALERs.
How They Were Captured with Evil
dences OF Guilt on Board.

utnCeh Oh euiib ob botT"
The Secretary OF the Treasury has re.
celved mail advices from Capt. Shepard,
commanding the revenue steamer Rush,
in regard to his cruise In Alaskan waters.
From these reports 1t appears that the
schooners Onward, Thornton, and AIDE.
laide, captured by the Corwin last
summer, are still moored at 0unalaska. On
the 25th of June Capt. Shepard boarded and
examined the steam schooner Kate aud
Annie, Of Portland, Oreg., Capt. Lutjens
master, ten miles north northeast of 81.
George Island, in the Behring sea. The
vessel was furnished with number Of
small boats and all the necessary imple-
ments for taking seal, and the master adj
mitted that the vessel was on a sealing
voyage, aud had on board six seal skins
which he said were taken before he entered
the Behring sea. Capt. Shepard Uniformed hin
that In taking seal in the part of Behring's
sea claimed by the United States, or 10 the
territory of Alaska, or the waters thereof,
he was violating the laws of the United
States (Sec. 1866, Il. s. J, and that IL he was
caught doing so he would be arrested aud
his vessel seized. He promised to respect
the law and tie vessels parted company.
Capt. Shepard said he made this report be-
catise of the fact that Special Treasury
Agent G. Il. Tlngle, In charge of the seal
islands of Alaska has expressed his opinion
of the law TO be "that vessels mlnned,
armed, and fitted and provided with the
implements for taking seal aud salt for
curing the same found in the waters Of
the territory of Alaska, or that part of the
Behring sea claimed by the United States,
were liable to seizure, though not found in
the act OF taking seal and without other
evidence that they had taken seal In the
waters named" "rhough the evidence Of
the intention CT violating the law in regard
to the taking Of seal when the opportunity
ofrered,n says Capt. Shepard, sis unquss-
toned l do not feel warranted in seizing
vessels or making arrests until l
have unimpeachable evilence that the
law has been violated " He asks the de-
| partment for special instructions on thi:
| subject for his guidance in similar cases In
| the future. On the 30th Of June the Rust
seized the schooner Challenge, Of Seattle
| Wash. Ter, ii. b. Jones master aud tnanag
ing owner, for violation Of section 1851, r
| s., she having skins of female fur seal ant
skins Of unborn seal on board. The latter
the master admitted, were taken from
female seal killed by his crew. The Chal.
lenge, which was anchored at Akoutar
island, Alaska, when seized was taken t.
Ounaasks, and the skins, numbering 15l
were delivered to the United States mar
| ShaI tnere. 1ler arms anu aUlnuulJlOt
were taken on board the Rush. Her crew
numbering fifteen men, were shipped n
Port Townsend, Wash. Ter. On the 2 o
July Capt. Shepard, while in latitul
54o 5S north and longitude 1T6o 81 west
near Cape Chal, boarded the British stean
schooner Anna Beck, OF Victoria, B. O.
Louis Oesen master. He found on boar
about 334 seal skins, OF which the capital
admitted nineteen were taken In the Beh
ring sea. Her boats had recently been take
out Of the water, and considerable bloo
and gurru were found on deck, indicating
that seal had been skinned and dressed o.
board that day. The vessel was seized ant
taken to Ounalaska, where the vessel an
outfit were delivered to the United State
marthal. Subsequently the officers an
crews of the seized vessels were placed Of
board the Challenge in charge Of an Office
of the Rush, and taken to sitka, Alaska
for trial before the United States distric
court at that city.
Assistant Secretary Maynard has tee
graphed Capt. Shepard that the department
approves his action with reference to tn
schooner Katie and Annie and also hi
statement that he does not feel warrante
in selling vessels until he has unimpeach
able evidence that the law has been violated